Breaking Barriers: How to Create a More Inclusive Art World for Women and Moms

Women and mothers in the arts have long faced systemic barriers that have prevented them from thriving. These barriers include inadequate access to affordable childcare, gender bias, time constraints, and isolation.

Addressing these obstacles with urgency and determination is imperative to achieve significant progress toward a truly inclusive and equitable art community. We must push for change now.

Here are some specific actions we can take:

• • • Increase access to affordable childcare. This will allow mothers to have more time to create art without worrying about their children.
    • Challenge gender stereotypes in the art world. This will help to ensure that women’s work is seen and recognized.
    • Provide flexible work arrangements for mothers. This will allow mothers to balance their artistic careers with their family responsibilities.
    • Create opportunities for mothers to connect with each other. This will help to combat isolation and create a sense of community.

These actions allow us to cultivate an art world that empowers and supports women and mothers. Their voices will be heard, and their work will be showcased, allowing for a more diverse and dynamic art scene that accurately represents our society’s richness.

To achieve greater gender parity in the arts, it is crucial to ensure that women have equal opportunities for leadership positions. This can be accomplished by nominating more women for these roles, providing mentorship and training programs, and offering flexible work arrangements that allow women to balance their careers with family responsibilities. By promoting women into leadership positions, we can bring a wider range of perspectives to the table, leading to a more diverse and inclusive art community.

We were so pleased that for our inaugural opening night gala, we had two mothers in government attend. And the current mayor of Northampton, MA, Gina-Louise Sciarra, is a mother. Heck, 2021 brought us our first woman, and mother, to hold the office of Vice President with Kamala Harris, the highest-ranking mom ever in US history.

This is just the beginning. It is essential to ensure equal access for women and mothers to the arts. They deserve the same opportunities as men and should be included in all discussions. This way, we can create a just and inclusive art world that benefits everyone.

The art world is at a crossroads. We can either continue to discriminate against mothers or create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all artists, regardless of their parental status. The future of the art world depends on the choices we make today.

Establishing a more inclusive and fair art world for women and mothers requires collaboration from everyone. We must increase the representation of women in leadership positions, advocate for policies that support working mothers, challenge gender stereotypes, and support organizations that promote equity. By taking these steps, we can gradually create a level playing field for women in the arts, enabling them to express their artistic abilities without barriers. As we strive for a more inclusive and elevated perspective in society, let’s not forget the immense contribution of mother artists to the creative world. We should celebrate and embrace their talents in all aspects of the art world.

Mothers disproportionately shoulder the unpaid labor of parenting. A 2020 New York Times Opinion piece estimated that women’s unpaid labor is worth $10.9 trillion worldwide.

Balancing motherhood and a career is challenging for many mothers. It can be even more daunting in the arts, where jobs often come with long hours and unpredictable schedules. However, we can make it easier for mothers in the arts to maintain their careers while raising a family by advocating for policies like paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and flexible work arrangements. That’s where women-friendly government officials can help.

Gender stereotypes continue to permeate the art world, resulting in a lack of recognition and opportunities for women. It’s crucial to commission more works from female artists, showcase more women artists in exhibitions and performances, and give female artists more chances to discuss their experiences as both artists and mothers. Event organizers, exhibition curators, and award panels must be held accountable for promoting diverse artists. It’s time to take action and put an end to this injustice.

Many organizations are working to create a more equitable art world. Supporting them can help to bridge the gap.

The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the representation of girls and women in media. Founded by Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis, the organization works to make gender equality in film and television a reality through research, education, and advocacy.

The institute has conducted groundbreaking research that has revealed the extent to which gender stereotypes are perpetuated in media. For example, the institute found that women are underrepresented in leading roles in film and television, and when they are represented, they are often depicted in stereotypical ways.

The institute also provides educational materials and resources for teachers, parents, and media professionals who want to make a difference in this space. These materials can help people to understand the importance of gender equality in media and how they can work to challenge gender stereotypes.

In addition to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, many other organizations are working to promote equality for women in the art world. These organizations include WomenArts, the National Women’s Law Center, MomsRising, Moms F1rst, Parent Artist Advocacy League for Performing Arts + Media, and Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art.

To truly empower mothers and women in their creative endeavors, it is imperative that we throw our support behind organizations that actively challenge gender inequality within the art world. By doing so, we can help facilitate increased funding and the implementation of policies that directly benefit women and their pursuit of artistic excellence.

Acknowledging the numerous obstacles mothers face in the creative arts is imperative. Sadly, these women’s individual experiences often go unnoticed. However, we possess the ability to rectify this. By investing in the futures of women and mothers, we can establish a supportive and uplifting art world that facilitates everyone in realizing their complete potential. This is a critical step towards securing the future of the art world.

The art world reflects the larger society, and we must continue to strive for equity and inclusion. Women and mothers are essential to any creative field and should be respected, valued, and celebrated.

By recognizing our shared responsibility to create a more equitable future for all artists, regardless of gender or parental status, we can create the conditions for a more diverse and vibrant art world. It is imperative that we prioritize inclusivity and equity in the art world to create equal opportunities for all to pursue their dreams and create meaningful work.  The necessary support and empowerment to mothers in the art world should not be ignored. The future of the art world depends on it.

It is widely recognized that women have made significant contributions to the arts despite their obstacles. It is also acknowledged that balancing a family and career can be difficult today. Our society has evolved, with many families having two working parents or being headed by a single parent. That said, it is clear that we are not providing enough support for families as a whole.

It is time that we recognize the incredible contribution of mother artists worldwide. From painters to musicians, writers to filmmakers, moms are making their mark in the creative world, and it is time for us to celebrate their achievements.

Many women artists have also acknowledged that they had to choose between a career or a family. And we know not everyone wants to be a mother, but those who are both mothers and artists, need unique support.

By supporting organizations that aim to support women and mothers as artists, we can help ensure that mother artists get access to the resources they need to continue creating and pushing boundaries in the arts. Recognizing and respecting the unique perspectives of mothers is absolutely essential. It is imperative to create an environment that is inclusive and values the opinions of all.

Only then can we truly create an equitable future for everyone in the creative world. Here are some specific things that we can do to support mother artists:

• • • Advocate for more representation of women in leadership positions in the creative industries.
    • Support organizations that provide support and resources for women in art.
    • Buy art by mother artists.
    • Speak out against gender discrimination in the art world.

The creative world has long been male-dominated, but mother artists are breaking down these barriers and making their mark. Their work is often underrepresented in the art world, but it is essential that we recognize and celebrate their contributions.

By supporting mother artists, we can help to create a more inclusive and equitable art world for all. We can also help to ensure that mothers’ voices are heard, and their perspectives are valued.

Many women and mothers continue to encounter various obstacles in the art world that hinder their potential for success. One of these challenges is the need for adequate representation of women in leadership roles in the creative industries. Even though women constitute a substantial portion of individuals involved in art and its production, they occupy less than a quarter of top creative positions. Several factors, such as gender discrimination and unconscious bias, cause this inequality.

Balancing childcare and household responsibilities with an art career can be challenging for freelance and contractor mothers. It’s important to advocate for more opportunities in the art world for women and mothers, as this can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the field.

Economic Barriers

Economic barriers can be a major roadblock for many female creatives. Due to institutional bias and discrimination, many female and mom-owned creative businesses that seek investment capital or funding from traditional sources need help. We must continue to strive towards creating an equitable economic environment where all artists are supported financially so that they can thrive.

Creating an Equitable Future

To create an equitable future for all women and mothers in the creative world, we must continue to support access to resources and funding for female creatives, recognize the unique perspectives and issues that mothers encounter, and create an environment where their voices are heard and valued.

With more awareness and action on these issues, we can continue celebrating the powerful work of female creatives throughout history and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all women in the creative industries.

The art world has a long history of discriminating against mothers. In the early 20th century, the avant-gardes viewed domesticity as a drag, and women artists who became mothers were often judged harshly. Even today, mothers in the art world face significant challenges, such as a lack of childcare options, a bias toward youth, and the expectation that they will have to choose between motherhood and a successful career.

These challenges have a real impact on women’s careers in the art world. A recent study by the Freelands Foundation found that only 32% of artists represented by London’s leading galleries are female. This suggests that motherhood is a significant barrier to women’s success in the art world.

There are several things that can be done to address this problem. First, we need to challenge the stereotypes that surround motherhood. Mothers are just as creative and committed to their work as non-mothers. Second, we must provide more support for working parents in art. This could include things like on-site childcare, flexible work arrangements, and paid parental leave.

Finally, we must change how we think about motherhood and work. Motherhood should not be seen as a liability but rather as an asset. Mothers bring a unique perspective and skills to the workplace and should be valued for their contributions.